AICE Environmental Management Unit 4

ecosystem

- a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

pyramid of energy

a diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web
- shows decrease in energy
- always upright

random sampling

- a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

systemic sampling

- select some starting point and then select every nth element in the population

transect sampling

- a line randomly crosses a space and any organisms that are close to the line are counted

quadrats

- square frames (usually 1m x1m) used in estimating abundance in plants or slow-moving animals

pitfall trap

- sampling technique used to trap animals living on the soil surface or in leaf litter

biome

- ecological area characterized by climate, soil type, and vegetation

pyramid of biomass

a pyramid that illustrates the total mass of all the organisms in a trophic level
- shows decrease in biomass going up the food chain
- typically upright due to energy loss
- could be seen as inverted due to biomass of producers being smaller than biomass of consumer

pyramid of numbers

representation of the number of individual organisms in each trophic level of an ecosystem
- may be upright due to next trophic level having smaller population
- may be inverted because a community has a smaller amount of producers that is able to support a large amount of consumers

sweep netting

- sampling method using a fine net swept through the air and then closed at the neck. used for sampling flying insects

beating trays method

- a cloth that is usually stretched out using a frame.
- the frame is then held under a tree or shrub and the foliage is then shaken.
- invertebrates fall from the foliage and land on the cloth.
- they can then be examined or collected.

kick sampling

- used to study river organism, sediment is kicked up and a net downstream catches any organisms for a set period of time

light traps

- a method of sampling populations of night-flying organisms that are attracted to lights, especially moths

capture-mark-recapture

- method involves capturing a number of animals, marking them, releasing them back into the population, and then determining the ratio of marked to unmarked animals in the population.
- also known as Lincoln Index, a process which is used to estimate the size of populations which are very mobile and difficult to survey.

Lincoln Index

- a way to measure the abundance of small motile organisms

(catch 1 x catch 2) / marked in catch 2

Simpson's Index of Diversity

- a measure of biodiversity that takes into account both species richness and species evenness.

rainforest biome

- near equator
- warm & humid
- abundant rainfall
- red/yellow soil (high in aluminum oxide)
- soil is easily eroded by high temps and heavy rain
- nutrients are stored in biomass

temperate forest biome

- mix of deciduous and evergreen trees.
- moderate seasonal differences in temp and rain
- in regions w/ distinct seasons
- fertile & well-developed soil that has high organic content

grassland

- semi-arid to semi-humid
- moderate precipitation
- distinct seasonal variations
- vegetation is mainly dominated by different types of grasses
- soil is deep and fertile w/ high nutrient content

tundra biome

- cold and long winters
- short summers
- little precipitation in form of snow
- low temperatures year-round
- vegetation has a shallow root system: allows for plants to access active soil
- soil is PERMAFROST which causes plants to be low growing

desert biome

- arid climate
- VERY low precipitation
- soil is thin and sandy
- nutrient-poor soil w/ limited organic matter
- mineral-rich soil
- high temps at day & low temps at night
- plants have sunken stomatas and small leaves/spines to minimize water loss
- limited vegetation = low biodiversity

taiga biome (boreal forest)

- cold long winters
- short cool summers
- heavy precipitation in form of snow
- soil is acidic and nutrient-poor
- trees have needle-like leaves (pine, spruce, etc.)

ecological succession

- process of gradual change in structure and composition of ecological community over time

primary succession

- occurs in uncolonized area
- starts with bare rock (no soil)
- occurs after disturbance like volcanic eruption
- relatively slow
- pioneer species: lichens and mosses

secondary succession

- occurs in areas previously colonized
- starts with soil that has life and nutrients
- after disturbances like fires or earthquakes
- relatively fast
- successional species takes over area

pioneer species

- first species to populate an area during primary succession

climax community

- a stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species over time

primary productivity

- rate at which energy is converted to organic matter through photosynthesis

biomass

total mass of biological matter in ecosystem
- a high biomass means a higher productivity rate

ecosystem productivity

- production rate of biomass in an ecosystem

gross primary productivity

total amount of energy captured by plants during photosynthesis
- formula: GPP = NPP + R

net primary productivity

amount of energy captured by plants (GPP) minus the amount of energy plants need for respiration (R)
- formula: NPP = GPP - R

how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next

10%

factors of inefficient energy transfer

- energy lost as heat through respiration
- incomplete consumption
- energy loss through excretion
- indigestible matter

native species

- species naturally found in an environment where they have natural predators

invasive species

species introduced to an environment where they don't have natural predators and can outcompete native species for food
- can become overpopulated and harm the environment

benefits of preserving biodiversity

- resources of potential medicines
- food, wood, fibers, oils, and fuels
- diversity in genes
- ecological services
- cultural and recreational value

causes for loss of biodiversity

- habitat loss
- invasive species
- population growth
- pollution
- climate change
- overconsumption

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

- international agreement ensuring sustainable trade of endangered species
- bans the selling, hunting, and capturing of threatened species
- has limited impacts as there are still illegal trading markets

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

- protects whales by establishing protected whale sanctuaries as "no fish" and "safe for breeding" zones
- responsible for management of whaling and conservation of whales
- allocates catch limits on specific populations
- limited due to inability of monitoring illegal fishing

European Union Common Fisheries Policy (EUCFP)

- sets quotas and limits on amount/type of fish that can be legally caught
- limited due to ability of vessels to travel away from European water and target less protect areas of West African waters

International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO)

- encourages sustainable tropical timber harvest and trade
- promotes restoration and conservation of tropical forests
- limited because there's still illegal harvesting of timber

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List

- tool to guide international actions for conservation of endangered/threatened species
- provides info about range, population size, habitat, ecology, use and/or trade, and threats to extinction
- many more species should be on this list but they aren't

EDGE program (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered)

- purpose is to raise funds and awareness to protect threatened species with unique evolutionary history and genetic structures
- limited because evolutionarily distinct species are not well known

captive breeding programs

- the process of breeding endangered species outside of their natural environment in restricted conditions to ensure long-term survival
- if done right, species can be reintroduced to the wild. however, some may not be able to adapt to becoming wildlife again.
- it can help ensure large and genetically diverse populations, yet there is a slight chance of interbreeding while in captivity

rewilding

- large-scale conservation aimed at restoring and protecting wilderness areas
- aims to try and restore ecological balance

endangered species act

- a piece of legislation that protects endangered species ONLY within the United States

national parks and nature reserves

- legally protected areas for flora, fauna, and natural features
- rules may be enforced through legislation

marine conservation zones

- an area that protects marine species by establishing "no-take" zones

impacts of human activity in tropical rainforests (as seen in the Amazon rainforest)

- cattle ranching
- small scale agriculture
- commercial agriculture
- logging
- mining
- hydroelectric protests
- oil and gas developments
- climate change

what are some causes of deforestation?

- government policies
- political influence
- need for economic development
- need of more space due to growing population

what are some effects of deforestation?

- reduced biodiversity and biomass
- conflicts w/ indigenous people
- increased carbon (contributes to global warming/climate change)
- increased soil erosion; decreased soil fertility
- air pollution from forest fires

strategies to manage human impacts on tropical rainforest

- legislation & international agreements
- sustainable harvesting
- nature reserves
- national parks (strict protection through legislation)
- biosphere reserves
- ecotourism
- debt for nature swaps (a foreign country's debt can be reduced as long as they pay for conservation efforts)

impacts of human activity on Antarctica

-climate change
-ozone depletion
-tourism
-overfishing
-future mineral and oil extraction
-scientific research

strategies to manage human impacts on Antarctica

- implementing protected areas
- fisheries regulations regarding size, number, bag limit, and time of year for fishing
- waste management
- prohibit activities like mineral extraction
- protection from nonnative animals and plants
- tourism control and permits for travel
- international agreements (ex: Antarctic Treaty of 1959)

Antarctic Treaty of 1959

- signed by many countries to protect & manage Antarctica
- prohibits the use of the continent for weapons testing, nuclear explosions, military activities, and disposal of nuclear waste
- declares Antarctica to be used for peaceful purposes ONLY
- sets rules around scientific research